A schoolboy has denied trying to kill his own mother in a knife attack.

Standing in Belfast Crown Court dock beside his father yesterday, the 15-year-old — who cannot be identified because of his age — pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to kill his mother on June 17 last year.

However, defence QC Gavan Duffy revealed that once the case comes for trial, set to be heard next September, it is unlikely there will be “any great dispute at all” about the facts as the schoolboy will be defending the case based on insanity.

The alleged facts of the case were not opened during the short hearing but it is understood from previous court appearances that the middle-aged woman was repeatedly stabbed as she lay in bed sleeping at her home in north Belfast.

Having sustained a punctured lung, the victim was rushed to hospital after she dragged herself out of the house and onto the street to raise the alarm.

Both Mr Duffy and prosecuting lawyer Philip Henry said there was likely to be further medical evidence about the teenager's psychiatric condition.

Judge David McFarland released the boy on continuing bail to live with his father.